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THE 7th LITHUANIAN FILM FESTIVAL “LITAUISCHES KINO GOES BERLIN“

November 2-6, 2017

Sputnik Kino – Acud Kino

The 7th edition of LITAUISCHES KINO GOES BERLIN presents the multifaceted world of Lithuanian cinema with highlights by young and renowned filmmakers. In five days at three venues, short and feature films of all genres and various side program events including film discussions, exhibitions, concerts and DJ sets show the artistic diversity of the small Baltic state.

Rokas and Inga, a young Lithuanian couple, volunteer to drive a cargo van with aid to Ukraine. When plans change and they find themselves left to their own devices, they go deeper into Donbass region, drifting into the lives of those affected by the war.

Awards:Academy Award 2017 – Official Lithuanian candidate for the Best Foreign Language Film

It’s 1989, the final year of the Soviet era in Vilnius. A few 18 year-olds establish the Seneca Society. A love triangle breaks up the fellowship right when they feel the most united. 25 years have passed and only disillusionment is left.

A Lithuanian provincial town is facing an economic crisis in 2008. Vytas, a father of two and a loving husband, gets fired from the factory. Immediately he starts looking for a new job, but slowly drifts into the limbo of unemployment where he faces his personal crisis.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT:
Financial crisis – compared to other personal crises in life – is nothing. My intent was to make a film about a man who is looking for ways to overcome all the obstacles in his life, or in other words, learns how to act as a responsible grown-up man.

A family of three seems idyllic from the outside. The mother knows exactly how a perfect family should be, so she takes control and fixes everything and everyone. In her vision, there is no place for unhappy people, nor weakness.

A forbidden door in Bluebeard’s castle can only be opened with a bloody key. What dark secrets are kept there? Interpretation of a fairy-tale Bluebeard, described in Clarissa Pinkola Estés’s book Women Who Run with the Wolves.

Lena and Vytas are constantly broke and always fighting about it. One day they get a hold of an expensive car and decide to experience the comfort of the luxurious life style.

Director‘s Statement:
All my life I‘ve felt that my days are being spent for nothing, that life is going on in places that I‘m not present. Sometimes I imagine myself truly living to the fullest, but that vision always ends in darkness. I begin to realize that it‘s not the end goal that should matter, but the journey itself. DAS AUTO, on the other hand, symbolizes the end.

An elderly couple lives in a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere burdened by routine. He’s grim, she’s disillusioned; and every day they have pancakes. Otherwise, there’s silence. Based on a true story.

As every evening, the Ghost goes to work – to haunt and to frighten. But it’s different this time. Even in his worst nightmares he hadn’t imagined he would meet such a terrible girl who just does not take him seriously.

The peaceful life of the Forester and his friends is disrupted by the villain Burgher littering the forest. The Forester feels powerless, so the Dog, the Cat and the Mouse rally the forest animals to teach the Villain a lesson.

The coloring pencils’ work is interrupted by an uninvited and mischievous fly. Chasing it, Sārtulis, the red color pencil, ends up in the garden and has to find his way back. Based on Margarita Stāraste’s fairy-tale.

Our body remembers more than we can expect or imagine, our body also remembers the sorrow and pain of its ancestors and sustains their life stories. But how far is it possible to go back in your bodily memory?

Valters breeds pigs and sings in the local church choir. His secret however keeps him from integrating in the community. After his father’s death, he gets closer to Aija, but this is not the beginning of an ordinary couple’s love story.

CROCODILE / KROKODILL

Having lost his grandeur, a former opera star is forced to work in a crocodile costume amusing children. The demeaning work and his unsatisfactory private life lead him into a dark depression, until suddenly a woman enters his life…

Life and human nature can be unpredictable. While energetic grannies expect impending death, the young ones ruminate about eternal love and blinding passion. But not everything can be foreseen in life.

Awards:
Lithuania’s Ministry of Culture 2006 – Debut prize
France FF Les Lutins 2005 – Nomination for the Best European Short Film Award

In the last bus to downtown, Mai finds herself next to two drug addicts – one of them being in a quickly deteriorating state of health. Failing to win the attention of the driver or the fellow passengers, she decides to intervene herself.

When Miina, a seemingly well-off woman, is caught shoplifting, the female officer takes the chance to demonstrate her contempt. Both women meet again just a few hours later in a situation where they have to become partners in crime.

Maria goes for a swim in the pool, even though it looks deserted and she’s warned not to do so. When she gets into the water, she is not only faced with the cold, but also with her own fears.

EVENTS

OPENING CONCERT – SOLO ANSAMBLIS

Festival Opening | Doors: November 2, 21:00, Acud Club

Named as the best alternative band of 2016 in Lithuania, Solo Ansamblis is coming to Berlin to open the festival Litauisches Kino Goes Berlin! They will steal your hearts with dark and vibrant sounds and lyrics that are based on personal experience and philosophy. They sing in Lithuanian, but you do not need to know the language to understand their message. They will call you for “sad dancing”, touched by experimental post-punk and electronic tunes.

Solo Ansamblis is four men in black, the spokesmen of modern urban music scene. Every performance is a contradiction that is filled with energy and melancholy, brightness and darkness, fogged with thick smoke balls, visualisations and fine decorations. Their music is a dedication to the nowadays rush and uncertainty. Alienation, emotional pressure, fake news, social media are played into band’s cold, strict, metaphorical and surrealistic cords. Solo Ansamblis’ concert is a bouquet of live instruments, such as effected guitar and synthesizers, expanded by electronically pulsating low-fi sounds.

In 2016, the band released their debut album Roboxai where songs are made from different layers of emotions. It was sold out straight away! In 2017 Solo Ansamblis released the first vinyl called RXP.

Although their stage life is still young, Solo Ansamblis can already be proud: they have played in the main music festivals and events in Lithuania and Europe, warm-upped such bands as Gus Gus, She Past Away and others. What’s more, four men have two sold-out tours under their belt as well as The Best Alternative Band Award and 3 nominations more in the Lithuanian Music Awards M.A.M.A 2016.

Vaiper, a godfather of Lithuanian urban music scene, brings light on the future of North-East Europe’s music scene, and the Baltics – to be exact: Facebook, Instagram, Youtube.

WORKSHOP FUTURE TOYS FOR FUTURE KIDS VAI KAI

Kids Workshop | 5 November, 2017, 15:30 at Sputnik-Kino

The world of tomorrow might look quite different compared to now, because of the development in robotics and artificial intelligence. How different? It is a question we should ask the people of tomorrow – our children. Vai Kai, a pioneering technology startup from Berlin, will present their interactive wooden toys. A short workshop to inspire kids to design their own vision of what the smart helpers of the future might look like. Best suited for ages 4-9. Workshop takes place right after the Sunday “Kids Matinee” screening and is held by Matas Petrikas.

CONCERT BY GIEDRĖ & JAZZ MINIATURES

Closing Concert | November 6, 2017, 21:00 at b-flat

Giedrė & Jazz Miniatures impress their auditorium with cosiness, simplicity and mastering of the sound. Every single concert is marked with distinguished voice, virtuosic sounds of live instruments and unique jazz improvisations. The project brings unique songs created by quartet and newly arranged classics of jazz.

The project, that gathered 4 talented, like-minded music professionals is performing for many years. The lead vocalist Giedrė, is well-known for wide audiences of Lithuania and abroad while performing with electro-punk bands “Milky Lasers” and “Empty”. Her talent is astonishing – nobody could doubt her professional skills and creativeness. To Jazz Miniatures, she brings her voice of unique sweet timbre, bright and wide pallet, perfect pitch and well-dosed power.

Andrej Plevikov, pianist and arranger is a fan of traditional jazz and classic standard repertoire. However, because of him the project is filled with improvisation of well-known melodies. He is playing with many Lithuanian and foreign musicians, taking parts in jazz festivals and competitions.

Last but not least – the rhythm to the performances is brought by the bassist Vytis Nivinskas and the drummer Darius Rudis. These two professional musicians have their unique style and technical skills, that allows listeners to look forward for more jazz coloured with modern colours.

Jazz Miniatures quartet has performed not only in Lithuania, but also abroad including Blues’n’Jazz Rally 2011 in Luxembourg, Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival 2013, 2014 in UK, Baltic Sea Festival 2013 in Stockholm, Sweden and Alanya Jazz Days 2014. In 2013 the band released their first CD “Jazz Miniatures“. In 2016 they recorded their second album, where all compositions were composed and arranged by band members.

Giedrė & Jazz Miniatures is bringing an experience that is hard to forget. Intelligence, professionalism and balance of 4 virtuosos is making every performance emotionally valid and memorable.

EXHIBITION OTHER PARALLEL OF THE STORY

Sputnik-Kino

Lithuanian artist Kristina Suvorova’s work is inspired by nature, brave souls, curiosity, freedom, childhood, fairytales and the Universe. Her exhibition Other Parallel of the Story will be showcased in Sputnik during the festival and will be available there till November 22.